- James F. Buckley
- Habitat Operations Manager
515 Caribbean Drive
Key Largo Fl 33037
305-451-0233/305-453-9719 FAX
jfbuckley@worldnet.att.net
Growing up in the City of Pittsburgh, I had little exposure to the ocean. However, I did find the undersea world irresistible. I can’t say that Jacques Cousteau was my greatest influence but, he was and still is a part of my love for the ocean. “Sea Hunt” with Mike Nelson (Lloyd Bridges) is who drew me into this wonderful undersea world. The thought of living and working in the ocean was just a dream until 1993 when I came to work for NURC/UNCW Aquarius Habitat.
In the 25 years that I have been involved with Oceanographic research, I have traveled around the world. But, I would say that the last 17 years have been the most fascinating. Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution and the Johnson–Sea–Link deep submersible operations and NURC/UNCW Aquarius Program have taken me to places in the undersea world that not many people get to see and experience.
Imagine working at 3000 feet below the surface on a wall in the Caribbean Sea collecting deep water sponges or living for 10 days in an undersea research lab. Places and sites most people can only dream about. This is what I do. “If you're doing something you really love, you can do it forever.” Lloyd Bridges said this and this is how I feel about undersea research.
I believe the oceans are our future and we need to learn as much as we can and understand the resources it holds.
